1. Newsletter
February 2010
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS
Dear Friend,
As February ends with little hope for many who are unemployed, underemployed or returning to work; I
hope you have given a good consideration to my call, in our January Newsletter, to begin to tap several of
the opportunities out there for Social Enterprises. If this the case, please endeavour to join one of our
Monthly Outreach Programmes designed to provide information and support for the unemployed, under-
employed and prospective Social Entrepreneurs. Also, our quarterly Business and Leadership Training
solely for start up Entrepreneurs and individuals or teams with new innovations. Updates
In this edition, we provide you with update and brief analyses on UK unemployment rate and how it affect
the migrant workforce, food for thought on climate friendly and self-employed work options as well as Support over 2.46million
insight into project managing your own web communication business goals. unemployed people in
UK. Join here
I trust you’ll find these resources useful and I look forward to providing full update on the forthcoming
COIDS 2010 Conference next month. Opportunities with COIDS
Best, here
MOE Find out how to join your
nearest COIDS Outreach
Coming soon
UK Unemployment Rates and Consequences for Migrant Workforce Details of COIDS
In UK alone, 2.46million cases of unemployed was and other associated problems. Conference 2010
recorded in the last quarter of 2009 showing a dip in
For the migrant workforce in particular, the Visit
the figures recorded the previous quarter. By February
17, 2010 the new figures on increase in benefits
problem presents greater consequences in terms www.coidsolutions.co.uk
of:
claimants cast doubts on whether unemployment was
actually being tackled in spite of government funds Increase in competition for job placements
pumped in to find a solution. The total figures on Higher risks in job security
unemployed and underemployed reached over Difficulty in securing business loans
5million. Forecasts also projected likely increase in the Increase in level of dependence on public funds
unemployment rate towards summer 2010 and more Increase in debt management problems
job losses in the public sector towards 2011. Poor standards of living
Increase in health and mental health problems
To avoid the backlash of prolonged unemployment Increase in crime rate
trends, there is need for thorough analyses as steps
towards finding lasting solutions to the main problem
♦ We invest in Peo-
Home-based Employment : Climate Friendly or Forced Option? ple
The increase in the number of decreases in emissions from energy The extent to which the areas
people working from home in the UK supplies, transport, businesses and successes were recorded bears
industrial processes pushing the UK reflection on the economic downturn,
does appear to have a positive
currently to 19.4% and closer to the job losses and increased ♦ People invest in
impact in terms of national policy
target to cut C02 emissions by 20%
mark. In the words of the Minister for dependency is very worrisome. Communities
Energy and Climate Change, Joan While activities to save our
in 2010. Ruddock, “The UK is demonstrating environment is doubtless welcoming,
the kind of year-on-year reductions the questions are:
It is however uncertain if this is a that set an example in the world Are the current circumstances
calculated strategy or how much community.” She added: “We are peoples’ choices or forced options? If ♦ Communities are
sacrifice yet to go to make good the determined to strengthen and
sustain the momentum behind the
the latter is the case, is this a
strategy towards achievement of the
Interdependent
promise of delivering above the
12.5% below 1990 levels outlined in low-carbon transition in the UK, 20% target at the end of 2010? What
supporting investment in low-carbon would be the implication thereafter
the Kyoto Protocol. technology, creating green jobs and and how would dependency level be
According to a recent report filed
providing a healthier future for controlled? ♦ We help maintain
everyone.”
under the Green Bristol news by
Elizabeth Moses
a continuous
Susie Weldon, there were notable

2. HOME
Community Initiatives Development Solutions is a Social
Enterprise aimed at promoting career sustainability and
reducing problems associated with migration, exclusion,
poverty and skills drain, in minority sector through provi-
sion of career boost for unemployed skilled people using
SMEs and Charities as platforms.
COIDS aims to support home-based Independent Devel-
opment Consultants (IDCs), provide them with access to
Community Initiatives Development Solutions
163 Lansbury Drive management trainings, networks of people with shared
Hayes passion and support new initiatives that may develop from
Middlesex
UB4 8RR such networks.
E-mail:: info@coidsolutions.co.uk
...investing in people and sustaining communities The ultimate goal is to test the new initiatives within the
host community and help develop relationship with civil
society in IDCs’ home countries for the purpose of re-
investing in their home countries
Improving SME Corporate Communication Through Website Design
Corporate Communication refers to set Plan
of activities involved in managing and 1. Define clear goals for web communication
orchestrating all communications e.g. advocacy, fundraising, marketing etc
aimed at creating favourable starting 2. Define your target group(s) e.g. children,
points with stakeholders on which a professionals, female customers etc
business depends. 3. Define your geographic operation e.g. UK
or international
As a mode of external communication, a
4. Draw up your draft web page using simple
business website is a powerful management
software like Microsoft Publisher (provides
tool which offers numerous benefits, particu-
generous range of templates which can also
lar for small businesses, including:
be exported to your web page). Remember,
Increased Market Size—expand the market it is important to use clear and concise mode
reach for your business of communicating corporate goals and extras
such as graphics or charts for instance, in Effective corporate communication can help your business
Information Cost Control—easy to update
relation to children or professionals respec-
and circulate business information at almost
tively. It is also important to let your goals
no cost ideas and paste on your website).
drive your web design project plan
Extended Business Hours—customer access 5. Set your budget (avoid waste which can
Implement
to your business 24/7 with little almost no be useful in other areas of your business)
1. Be sure you are comfortable using the
cost increase in overhead cost tools provided by your host and can afford
Research
Increased Sales—access to direct purchase 5. Research your domain name (make sure monthly or annual applied hosting charges
through e-commerce solutions your desired name is available is available) 2. Register your domain name and sign up to
2. Search and choose a user-friendly web a package (domain name should often reflect
Customer Relationship—improve business hosting service provider (be sure you are your geographic operation e.g. .co.uk, .com
relations through stakeholder communication clear about the available packages and no or .org)
and easy feedback tools hidden cost (advisable to use trial signups as 3. Implement your plans and test for
the trial period also provides you time to effectiveness and efficiency.
While it is advisable to engage the services familiarise with using the available tools)
of a web design company for your project, 3. Research the websites of businesses pro- Although it may seem an easy do it yourself
the following steps can help start-ups with viding similar services to yours and update project; depending on individual needs, one
lean budgets to set up basic web site which your initial plan (however, be sure to modify may find out that there is need for profes-
can be upgraded to professional standards ideas and make them unique to your busi- sional support and/or management services.
as the business grows. ness as it may also be illegal to copy people’s Qi Edge LLP